Some people go through life with an abundance of excitement and energy surrounding them and some people just create their own excitement and energy. Janie Wilkins has a little bit of both. In her book “Janie’s Unbelievable Journey: Volume 2,” Janie shares stories and letters that have been sent to her or by her throughout various points in her life. Janie has experienced many things in her 80+ years and she is open and honest throughout this book sharing the lessons and experiences that she learned along the way. This book has lots of information in it and gives a multitude of stories, as a memoir should. I did have…

Every child is curious and loves to explore his surroundings. Boo is no exception. In Loretta Medina’s book, Boo, the Wonder Where Kid, three year old Boo goes on a walk through the forests in Colorado with his grandmother to see all the amazing adventures that he can find. Unfortunately, Boo finds himself confronted with a dangerous animal and has to learn how to respond.This book is a great story for young children. My three year old son enjoyed listening to the story and looking at the pictures. The lesson to be learned about dealing with dangerous animals is a great one for young children to learn as well. The pictures and…

How do we know that God always loves us? This can be a difficult question for even adults to answer sometimes, yet that is the very question that Faith Tydings addresses in her children’s book A Little Yellow Star. This book tells the story of a child who grows up and notices that there are little yellow stars that are painted in various spots throughout the house. As the child grows and starts to ask Mom questions about the yellow stars, you can see how easily God’s truths are woven into the story and explained in such a way that a child can understand and relate to them. We can…

Abraham Lincoln was one of the most fascinating figures in history, living during one of the most tumultuous times in United States history, and dying in a shocking assassination plot. This is a fascinating book that reads like a story. I wish my history books in school would have been this interesting and informative about the entire circumstance surrounding the death of one of the greatest Presidents of the United States. I was enthralled with the style of writing as the book reads much more like a novel than a history book. O’Reilly and Dugard include the entire background story surrounding the events that lead up to the assassination, starting…

Mockingjay, the final book of The Hunger Games Trilogy, was again, one that I read in one setting. I had so thoroughly enjoyed the first two books that I had really high expectations for the finale. Unfortunately, I was not as thrilled with the final book. I liked the plot line for the most part. I felt let down by the main character Katniss. Through the first two books, Katniss had really been angry with her mother for how she got depressed following the death of Katniss’s father. However, in this book, Katniss seems to follow in her mother’s footsteps and just didn’t seem to have the same qualities that…

After I finished “The Hunger Games” in one sitting, I quickly realized that I would have to get the second and third book of the series. “Catching Fire” is the second book of “The Hunger Games” Trilogy. Like the first, the drama and the story line was engaging and I read this in one sitting as well. I ended up liking this one better than the first. I found myself better able to understand the characters and really identifying with the questions and concerns that Katniss faces as she find herself the unwitting leader of a rebellion that she didn’t even plan. Suzanne Collins has an incredible way of crafting…

I received this book as a Christmas present. I had never even heard of the book, but noticed that there is a movie coming out this year. I started reading it that evening before bed and told myself that I’d stop at the first good stopping place. Six hours later I finally found the last page of the book and decided that was the best stopping point I could find. This book was intriguing. I can see why this was picked up as a movie. The story line is engaging and moves quickly. There is a lot of drama and action. Katniss is a 16 year old who grows up…

I am going to get back to doing our weekly book reviews on Mondays. I love to read and I want to help spread the word about some of the great books I’ve read recently. I received a copy of The Prosperity Gospel Exposed: and Other False Doctrines from Michael Fortner who asked if I’d be willing to read and write an honest review. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I sat down to read. What I found was a well thought out and researched review of the main principles of the Prosperity gospel that is preached by so many big-name preachers today, along with solid Biblical facts…

Have you ever felt lost, rejected, or unloved? Struggling through those feelings and emotions can overwhelm people and bring a sense of hopelessness. Annette Robertson went through that and found a way to come out on the other side. Annette’s book, Love and Acceptance is her story. In it she shares the dark paths she found herself on and the difficulties she faced. She shares her own personal journey to find herself and find that love that she had always yearned for. I enjoy the honesty of Annette’s writing. She is very real and genuine throughout, sharing how situations impacted her and what her thinking was during those times. She…

New books coming out are always a fun adventure. However, a new book by an author that you love is even more fun than that! I loved Amanda Stephan’s first book, The Price of Trust. It was a great read and a story I thoroughly enjoyed. Therefore, when she asked me to read through a pre-release copy of her upcoming book, Lonely Hearts, it was like Christmas came early! Lonely Hearts is the story of a young widow named Becky and her two children. She is searching for a place to belong and raise her kids. As she struggles through the emotions surrounding her loss as well as trying to look forward,…